Sima Rui, styled Jingwen, was a member of the Jin Dynasty. His father was known as Niu Jinzi. Initially, Emperor Xuan of Jin had a son named Sima Zhao, who was titled Prince of Langya Wu; Sima Zhao had a son named Sima Jin, who became a Cavalry Attendant as well as Prince Gong of Langya. Sima Jin's wife was Lady Xiahou of Qiao State, nicknamed Tonghuan. She had an affair with a man named Jin Jian and gave birth to Sima Rui. Sima Rui then took on the surname Sima, posing as the son of Sima Jin, and grew up in that identity; therefore, he claimed to be from Wenzhen in Henan. He initially was the Crown Prince, then inherited a title, appointed as Cavalry Attendant, and later rose through the ranks to become Prefect of Archers, Prefect of the Cavalry, General of the Left Army, and General of the Right Army.
Once, Emperor Hui of Jin went to Linzhang, where Sima Rui's uncle was killed by Sima Ying, King of Chengdu. Fearing for his own safety, Sima Rui quickly fled to Luoyang, taking his mother back to her old home in Chen State. King Donghai, Sima Yue, led troops to capture Pi and appointed Sima Rui as Assistant General to help. Sima Yue planned to bring Emperor Hui back from Chang'an and also made Sima Rui General of Pacification of the East, responsible for overseeing military operations around Xuzhou and stationed him in Pi. Shortly after, Sima Rui was promoted to General Who Maintains the East, overseeing military affairs in Yangzhou, and was granted the authority of a false command. Although he was supposed to be stationed in Shouyang, he remained in Pi. When Sima Yue went west to meet Emperor Hui, Sima Rui stayed behind to guard the rear and handle affairs of the Office of the General of Pacification of the East. Later, when he was to be transferred to Jiangdong, he faced a rebellion led by Chen Min. Due to insufficient troops, Sima Rui stayed in Pi. In the spring of the first year of Yongjia, Chen Min died, and in the autumn, Sima Rui finally arrived in Jianye. Five years later, he was promoted to General Who Guards the East, granted the privilege of establishing a household with equal status, and was further enfeoffed due to an increase of 20,000 households in Kuaiji Commandery. He was also responsible for military affairs across five provinces: Yangzhou, Jiangzhou, Xiangzhou, Jiaozhou, and Guangzhou.
In June, Wang Mi and Liu Yao attacked Luoyang, causing Emperor Huai to flee to Pingyang. The Grand Minister of War of the Jin Dynasty, Xun Fan, and the Colonel of the Imperial Guard, Xun Zu, nominated Sima Rui as the leader. Sima Rui then unilaterally changed the names of counties and bestowed upon himself various titles. However, the Inspector of Jiangzhou, Hua Yi, and the General of the North Central Army, Pei Xian, ignored him completely. Pei Xian declared himself General of the Eastern Garrison, in charge of military affairs in five northern counties, and joined forces with Hua Yi. Sima Rui sent Left General Wang Dun, General Gan Zhuo, Zhou Fang, and others to attack Hua Yi, leading to the death of Hua Yi. Pei Xian then fled to Shi Le. In the sixth year of Yongjia (313 AD), Sima Rui announced proclamations to various regions, stating that he and Emperor Mu would launch a campaign against Liu Yuan together and meet in Pingyang.
In 313 AD, Emperor Min of Jin appointed Sima Rui as Palace Attendant, Left Prime Minister, and Grand Commander, in charge of military affairs in the eastern regions, and granted him the same honors and titles as before. Sima Rui renamed Jianye to Jiankang.
In July, Sima Rui pondered that the Jin Dynasty was on the brink of collapse, and he needed to secure his own future. He then declared a general amnesty, promoted himself, became Grand Commander, commanding the national military, and also served as Prime Minister. However, his orders went unheeded. Once in power, he became tyrannical, arbitrarily executing innocents. He killed an official responsible for transportation, Chunyu Bo, and during the execution, the executioner wiped his knife on a pillar, resulting in blood splattering up to two zhang and three chi high, and down four chi and five cun, straight as a taut bowstring. People at the time were rife with complaints against him.
Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Rui, initially proclaimed himself King of Jin, renamed the era Jianwu, established ancestral temples and altars, appointed officials, and designated his son Sima Shao as crown prince. Sima Rui sacrificed at the southern outskirts as King of Jin. In the same year, Sima Rui seized the throne and declared himself emperor, changing the era name to Daxing. His court etiquette and capital city system were all imitations of the Central Plains dynasties, following the Chinese way of doing things. Finally, the capital city was established in Danyang, the former territory of Sun Quan, also known as the Yangzhou area mentioned in the "Tribute of Yu," located more than 2,700 miles away from Luoyang. The area is characterized by mountains and water, with muddy land and quite barren fields, similar to the "barbarian islands" described in ancient texts.
In the "Rites of Zhou," it is said that the Zhi Fang officials were in charge of the land of the world, distinguishing the boundaries of various countries, as well as the population, wealth, food, and livestock of the four barbarians, eight barbarians, seven Min, nine Mao, five Rong, and six Di, understanding their advantages and disadvantages. The southeastern region is called Yangzhou, with its mountain fortress being Kuaiji, marshes being Juqu, rivers being Sanjiang, and waters being Wuhu, abundant in gold, tin, and bamboo arrows, with a population ratio of two males for every five females, suitable for raising birds and animals, and for growing rice. During the Spring and Autumn Period, this area belonged to the Wu Yue states. The usurping kings of Wu Yue were isolated, having little connection to Central Plains culture. Minister Shen Gong Wuchen, a minister of the Chu state, once eloped here with his wife and taught them how to fight, which enabled Wu Yue to learn warfare. Therefore, Wu Yue had a relatively late interaction with the Central Plains. The people in this area tend to be frivolous and impatient, lacking understanding of etiquette and education, and like to dress up their daughters to attract tourists, which reflects their customs. In the Warring States Period, this area was annexed by the Chu state.
Because it is located in a remote area, nestled between mountains and rivers, when the world is in chaos, the people here are the first to rise in rebellion; when the world is at peace, they are slow to come to terms with the court. In the late Qin Dynasty, when Xiang Yu raised his army in the southern Yangtze River region, King Wu Rui of Hengshan brought the armies of the Hundred Yue tribes, and King Wu Zhu led the troops from Fujian to join Xiang Yu, together overthrowing the Qin Dynasty. In the early Han Dynasty, Liu Bang appointed Wu Rui as King of Changsha and appointed Bi, the King of Wu, in Zhufang. Later, these feudal lords rebelled one after another and were ultimately exterminated by the court. In the late Han Dynasty, when the world was in chaos, Sun Quan and Liu Bei divided the regions of Wu and Shu. Sun Quan occupied the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, which was almost like a heavenly division of internal and external territories. Taking advantage of the turmoil, Sima Rui seized control of this area. The Central Plains people viewed the Jiangdong folks as barbarians, referring to them as "minks," similar to foxes and minks. In places like Bashu, Man, Liao, Xi, Li, Chu, and Yue, the calls of birds and the sounds of beasts are different, the languages are unintelligible to each other, and the food and necessities are different from those of the Central Plains. The land stretches for nearly a thousand miles, and Sima Rui only controlled it without genuinely conquering the local populace. This area has plenty of rice fields but few dry lands, and people mainly rely on fishing for their livelihood. They are adept at calculations, pursue profit, and have a lack of loyalty and trust. Families often go hungry and feel the cold. Because of the humid, hot climate, many people suffer from edema and dysentery, and there are miasmas, toxic fogs, and various poisonous creatures like scorpions, sandflies, and snakes. Sima Rui occupied the lands of Yangzhou, Jingzhou, and Liangzhou, and based on the original boundaries, set up over a dozen states and numerous counties, with some counties having populations of fewer than a hundred families. The emperor dispatched envoy Han Chang across the sea to negotiate peace with the Wu Kingdom, but Emperor Hui of Jin turned down their request, as the Wu Kingdom was a usurper regime.
At that time, the Wang family, led by General Wang Dun, wielded significant power and their influence was overwhelming in front of Emperor Hui, frequently opposing him, blurring the lines between ruler and subject. Emperor Hui's attendant Liu Kui advised him, saying, "The Wang family's influence is too great; we should find a way to gradually weaken them." When Wang Dun heard about this, he was very angry. During Emperor Hui's reign, the era name was changed to Yongchang. Wang Dun, who was stationed in Wuchang at the time, sent a memorial to Emperor Hui, saying, "Liu Kui, having previously served in the Ministry of the Interior, amassed considerable power. Now he is leading troops on his own, claiming to eliminate evil. Liu Kui should be executed immediately to justify his actions to the people. If the court executes Liu Kui, the army will retreat by night. Just like the ancient case of Taijia, who disregarded King Tang's laws, nearly leading to the country's downfall. Fortunately, he listened to Yi Yin's advice, and the Shang Dynasty was able to revive. Therefore, even wise people can make mistakes and then correct them." Wang Dun also dispatched orders to various prefectures, appointing Shen Chong as the Grand Commander to command the Eastern Wu forces. Emperor Hui issued an edict, saying, "Wang Dun, relying on favor, has become so arrogant and overbearing, comparing me to Taijia of ancient times, wanting to imprison me in Tong Palace. Can this be tolerated? I can no longer bear it! I will take command of the army myself to deal with this treacherous scoundrel!" Emperor Hui's Minister of Works, Wang Han, escaped with his son Wang Yu in a small boat and sought refuge with Wang Dun in Wuchang. Emperor Hui appointed Wang Dao as the vanguard Grand Commander and Lu Ye as the Military Commander; he also appointed Tao Kan, the Inspector of Guangzhou, as the Inspector of Jiangzhou, and Gan Zhuo, the Inspector of Liangzhou, as the Inspector of Jingzhou, instructing them to mobilize their forces to contain Wang Dun; and he ordered the Crown Prince's Right Guard Zhou Yi to lead three thousand soldiers to confront Shen Chong.
Wang Dun arrived in Liezhou and submitted a memorial stating that the Minister of Personnel, Diao Xie, was also involved in this matter and should be executed. Emperor Hui dispatched General Zhou Zha to guard Shitou City. Zhou Zha secretly corresponded with Wang Dun, promising to open the city gates to receive Wang Dun's army upon their arrival. Wang Dun sent Sima Yang Lang and others to attack Shitou City, and Zhou Zha did indeed open the gates to welcome Wang Dun. After Yang Lang and others occupied Shitou City, Emperor Hui sent General Dai Yuan and General Liu Wei with their troops to attack. Dai Yuan personally led the soldiers, boosting morale and mounting a fierce assault on the city. Suddenly, the assault was called off, and Yang Lang and others took advantage of the opportunity to counterattack, defeating Emperor Hui's army. Liu Wei and Diao Xie returned to see Emperor Hui, who urged them to flee for their lives. The two men departed in tears. Liu Wei fled to Huaiyin and later sought refuge with Shi Le. Diao Xie fled to Jiangcheng and was killed by Wang Dun's pursuers. Emperor Hui's army was defeated.
Wang Dun became the Prime Minister, appointed as Duke of Wuchang County with a fief of ten thousand households. All major and minor matters in the court had to be consulted with him first. Wang Dun arrested and killed Dai Yuan and the Minister of the Left, Zhou Yi, both respected figures in the court at that time, who were both put to death in Shitou City. He then began a large-scale replacement of officials, provincial governors, and prefects, with over a hundred officials transferred, demoted, or dismissed. Some officials would take office today and be removed the next day, while others would only serve for a few months or even half a year before being removed. Wang Dun trusted Shen Chong, Qian Feng, and others, believing everything they said. If they accused anyone, that person was as good as dead.
Wang Dun intended to return to Wuchang. His chief historian, Xie Kun, advised him, "You haven't been to court for a long time; I'm afraid people will start talking behind your back!" Wang Dun asked him, "Can you guarantee there won't be any issues?" Xie Kun replied, "I recently had an audience with the emperor, and he specifically vacated his seat to wait for you. He waited a long time to see you, and the atmosphere in the palace is quite calm; there shouldn't be any danger. If you want to return to court, I am willing to accompany you." Wang Dun said, "Even if I were to kill a few hundred of you lot, what loss would that be to the court?" Thus, he completely ignored Xie Kun and went straight back to Wuchang.
Wang Dun then called upon General Gan Zhuo from Annan, intending to have him transfer Sima Cheng, the Prince of Qiao, to a position in the army. Both Gan Zhuo and Sima Cheng ignored him. Wang Dun then sent his half-brother, Wei Yi, a general of the Southern Barbarians, along with Li Heng, the governor of Jiangxia, to attack Sima Cheng in Linxiang. Ten days later, Linxiang fell, and Sima Cheng was captured and sent to Wuchang. Wang Dun's brother, Wang Yan, had someone ambush Sima Cheng on the way, killing him right there in the carriage. Prior to this, Wang Dun's memorial to the emperor was quite disrespectful, and Emperor Sima Rui showed the memorial to Sima Cheng, saying, "This is how Wang Dun talks; when will he ever be satisfied?" Sima Cheng replied, "Your Majesty, if you don't deal with him soon, it’ll only get harder later!" Because of this, Wang Dun held a grudge against Sima Cheng. Meanwhile, the governor of Xiangyang, Zhou Lü, took the opportunity to kill Gan Zhuo.
Sima Rui was terrified of Wang Dun and lived in a state of constant fear, which ultimately made him ill from worry and led to his death. His son, Sima Shao, seized the throne and became emperor, renaming the era to Tai Ning.
Wang Dun wanted to rebel, so he hinted to Wang Dao to summon him. He wrote a letter to Wang Dao saying, "I, Wang Dun, humbly bow to you. The affairs of the realm are far too significant; my abilities are limited, and I cannot bear this heavy burden. I feel extremely anxious and restless, as if I were standing on the brink of a cliff. I truly need a chancellor like you to help me through this difficult time. You are highly respected for your virtue and achievements, admired far and wide, bearing the heavy responsibilities of the state and commanding the army. However, the journey is long and fraught with obstacles, making it very difficult to act, and hesitation will surely lead to losses. I believe you should come to the capital to assist the court, so that I can consult you at any time, and the court officials also think the same. You possess exceptional talents and are deeply loyal and devoted, worrying for the country and the people. If this matter truly needs to be done, then we should consider the bigger picture, working towards national stability and the well-being of the people, ensuring that we make no missteps. I hope you secretly agree with my thoughts and come as soon as possible to meet my expectations." Wang Dao felt frightened by Wang Dun's strong attitude.
So he sent someone to give Wang Dun the seals of the Taichang and Zhan Shi titles, appointing Wang Dun as Chancellor and Duke of Wuchang, granting him the authority to conduct affairs without referring to himself as a subject, to attend court without bowing, and to enter the palace wearing a sword and court boots. Wang Dun then stationed himself in Wuhu. Wang Dun also transferred Wang Dao to the position of Situ, took the role of Inspector of Yangzhou himself, and appointed Wang Dao's nephew, Wang Ying, as General of the Imperial Guards, as his deputy. Wang Dun had no sons and regarded Wang Ying as his heir. Wang Dun, having been ill for over a year, summoned Wang Dao back to the capital, intending to entrust his affairs to him. At this time, Wang Dun ordered the imperial guard troops under Wang Dao's responsibility to have two days of rest every three days. Wang Dao secretly planned to attack Wang Dun and conducted covert surveillance on Wang Dun's camp. As Wang Dun's condition deteriorated, Wang Dao repeatedly sent officials to visit him and promoted Wang Ying to General of the Cavalry and Assistant to the Three Departments.
Oh no, Su Jun's illness is getting worse, so Su Shao secretly summoned Situ Wang Dao, Geng Liang, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, Danyang Yin Wen Qiao, and Shangshu Bian Xuan to conspire against him. Wang Dao, Wen Qiao, and General Bian Dun took control of Shitou City, while Guanglu Xun Ying Zhan was in charge of the military operations south of Zhuque Bridge, and Shangshu Ling Qi Jian was tasked with overseeing the emperor's military. Su Shao waited outside the main hall. When Bian Dun heard about the rebellion, he was enraged and wanted to lead the troops himself, but he was so weak that he could barely sit up. He then called his subordinates Qian Feng, Deng Yue, and Zhou Fu, leading thirty thousand troops straight to Jianye. Su Han told Bian Dun, "I'll handle this myself!" So Su Han was made the commander. Qian Feng and the others asked Bian Dun, "What will happen to the emperor if we succeed?" Bian Dun replied, "We haven't even made sacrifices to the heavens yet—where's the emperor in all this? Just focus on protecting the King of Donghai and Concubine Pei!" At first, Su Shao thought Bian Dun was already dead, which is why he felt bold enough to raise troops. A few days later, the court issued an edict, and Bian Dun managed to write to Wang Dao, writing in the letter: "Tai Zhen, it’s only been a few days since you left, and look what’s happened!" "Tai Zhen," which is Wen Qiao's courtesy name, terrified everyone when Su Shao saw this letter.
Su Han and his troops arrived, and Wen Qiao immediately set fire to the Zhuque Bridge, hoping to undermine their morale. Su Shao sent General Cao Hun from the central army, along with Left Guard officer Chen Song and Duan Pidi's brother Tu, leading a thousand elite soldiers to engage Su Han. They fought in Jiangning, decapitating He Kang, Su Han's vanguard commander, and slaughtering several hundred of his troops. When Bian Dun heard that He Kang was dead and that his troops could not come, he was furious and cursed, "My brother is nothing but an old lackey! Our family has fallen; those who were both talented and cultured have all died early. This year, this matter is over!" He said to the officer Lu Bao, "I have to give it my all!" He attempted to rise but was too worn out and collapsed back down. He also sought an oracle from the diviner Guo Pu, and after the divination, Guo Pu said, "It's not good; the outcome is unfavorable." Bian Dun, already suspicious that Guo Pu was advising Wang Dao and Wen Qiao to rebel, became enraged upon hearing the bad omen and killed Guo Pu.
Alas, my illness worsened. I said to my uncle Yang Jian and my son Wang Ying, "After I die, Ying, you need to take the throne right away, get the court officials sorted out first, and then handle my funeral." After I had just defeated Sima Rui, I had a dream where a white dog fell from the sky and bit me. Later, as my illness grew worse, I even saw folks like Diao Xie and Gan Zhuo burning incense for me, and ultimately, I passed away.
Wang Ying, that sneaky little brat, kept my death a secret, wrapped my corpse in a mat, buried it in the study, and then partied with his generals, Zhuge Yao and the others, having a wild time! At this time, Shen Chong brought over ten thousand troops to support Hanzhang. Before departing, Shen Chong looked back at his wife and said, "A man who doesn't achieve great military feats won't come back!" General Zuyue also led his troops to Huainan and drove away the governor Ren Tai, who was appointed by Wang Dun. Shao's generals, Liu Xia and Su Jun, set off from Manchuria, crossed the river with Hanzhang, and Wang Ying, that ungrateful son, led the army to counterattack, but got soundly beaten by the enemy. Zhou Fu took out Qian Feng, and Shen Chong's subordinate Wu Ru also killed Shen Chong. Shao then sent the censor Liu Yi to exhume Wang Dun's body, publicly executed him, and then hung his head on the beam of the Zhuque Bridge.
After Shao's death, his son Wang Yan seized the throne and renamed the era to Xianhe. Su Jun, this little troublemaker, is bound to cause trouble sooner or later, and the leader of Wang Yan's guards, Yu Liang, said, "Su Jun is like a jackal! As Chao Cuo once said, if we kill him, he might rebel; if we don't kill him, he will also rebel. Killing him will lead to a quick rebellion with minimal harm; not killing him will result in a slow rebellion with greater harm." Therefore, the court dispatched the Grand Minister of Agriculture to deal with Su Jun, and let Su Jun's brother Su Yi take over Su Jun's army.
The order to deal with Su Jun has arrived, and Su Jun was immediately furious, cursing, "That old bastard Yu Liang is trying to scheme against me!" His advisors, Kuang Shu, the magistrate of Fuling County, and Ren Rang from Le'an, advised Su Jun to strike first and kill Yu Liang. So Su Jun sent someone to contact Zu Yue to team up against Yu Liang, which thrilled Zu Yue. Zu Yue immediately ordered his nephew Zu Huan (envoy of Pei State) and his son-in-law Xu Liu (governor of Huainan) to lead troops to support Su Jun.
Han Guang, one of Su Jun's commanders, whose name was similar to the emperor's, led his troops to attack Gushu, killed the magistrate Tao Fu, and plundered before returning. Wang Yan put Yu Liang in charge of the campaign and sent Zhao Yin and Sima Liu to block Su Jun at Cihu. Han Guang then ambushed Sima Liu at dawn and killed him. Wang Yan sent Zhong Ya as the vanguard to block Su Jun by water. Huan Yi, the prefect of Xuan City, also marched to Wuhu but was defeated by Han Guang, who plundered several counties around Xuan City. Wen Qiao, the Inspector of Jiangzhou, also dispatched Wang Qianqi, Deng Dai, Ji Mu, and others to support Jianye.
On Wang Yan's side, Deng Dai led the troops to Zhidou, as Su Jun led twenty thousand soldiers across the Yangtze River and up to Niuzhu Mountain. Wang Qianqi attempted to intercept them but was unsuccessful. Su Jun marched all the way to Jiangshan, where Wang Yan ordered Bian Hong to lead the troops in defense, but Wang Yan's forces were too weak to withstand Su Jun's attack. Bian Hong, along with his two sons, Dan Yang Yin Yang Man, Huangmen Shilang Zhou Dao, Lujiang Taishou Tao Zhan, and Sanqi Shilang Ren Tai, all perished in battle, resulting in over three thousand casualties. After Yu Liang's defeat, he fled to Chaisang with his three brothers. Su Jun directly burned Wang Yan's palace, looted everywhere, and chased away all the court officials, leaving Wang Yan with only a handful of rice, not enough to sustain himself. Su Jun compelled Wang Yan to declare a general amnesty, explicitly excluding Yu Liang and his brothers. Su Jun appointed Zu Yue as Grand Commandant, Minister of State, and Grand Preceptor, and appointed himself as General of Chariots and Cavalry, General Who Leads the Army, and Director of the Secretariat. Jianye City was in turmoil, as most people fled to Wuhui. Upon hearing the news, Wen Qiao promptly informed military and local officials across various regions. When Yu Liang arrived at Penkou, Wen Qiao allocated some troops to him and reached out to Jingzhou Governor Tao Kan to join the campaign against Su Jun. Tao Kan refused, saying, "I am just a frontier general, not a court minister. I cannot bear such a great responsibility!" At that time, Su Jun had already killed Tao Kan's son, who further sent a letter to Tao Kan, stating, "If Su Jun succeeds, in such a vast world, where will you find your place? Your virtuous son died tragically, causing sorrow for everyone, especially for you as a father." Tao Kan then consented to join the campaign.
Su Jun set up camp at Yehu. Yudie's mother, Yushi, died from excessive worry and anxiety. Su Jun heard that a rebellion had broken out here, so he withdrew from Gushu and set up camp at Shitoucheng. He ordered his subordinates, Zhang Jin and Guan Shang, to lead the troops against the imperial forces, forcing Emperor Jin Ming, Sima Yan, to relocate to Shitoucheng. Sima Yan cried as he boarded the carriage, and everyone in the palace cried with him; not a single person was without tears. Su Jun converted a warehouse into a palace and appointed a local man, Xu Fang, as Sima, urging the soldiers to stand guard. Tao Kan, Geng Liang, and Wen Qiao led twenty thousand navy troops to Shitoucheng, but soon withdrew and camped at Caizhou Sha Menpu. Yudie defended Baishi Lei, and the next morning, Su Jun attacked him with tens of thousands of troops. They mounted a counterattack, forcing Su Jun to retreat. Yubing, the Grand Historian of Wu State, led the army from the Three Wu regions to fight against Su Jun, but did not win. Zhang Jin, Guan Shang, and others defeated Yubing's vanguard, plundering and committing heinous acts in Wuxi. Han Guang attacked Huan Yi, the internal historian of Xuan Cheng, who led the officials and citizens in a desperate resistance but was killed by Han Guang. Zu Yue was attacked by the troops led by Chen Guang from Yingchuan, and fled to Liyang. Jia Ning from Changle advised Su Jun to kill Wang Dao and all the ministers, but Su Jun ignored his advice, leading Jia Ning to change his allegiance and betray him. Wang Dao secretly contacted Jia Ning to assist Emperor Jin Ming, Sima Yan, in escaping to Wen Qiao.
Wen Qiao engaged in battle and ran out of supplies, so he asked Tao Kan for supplies. When Tao Kan heard this, he erupted in anger and replied, "Didn’t you swear that we had plenty of soldiers and supplies, and were just waiting for the common folks to head back home? Now that we have lost all the battles, where have all those powerful generals gone? If there is no food now, the common folks will just head back home!" In fact, Wen Qiao was worried that Tao Kan would not help, so he sweet-talked him. Wen Qiao humbly apologized, saying, "In the current situation, it's like being on the back of a tiger; can we easily get down? The enemy is on the verge of defeat, I hope you can hold on a little longer!" This made Tao Kan calm down a little. His general Li Yang advised him, "Even if we have supplies, we won’t be able to eat if we lose the fight! You should contribute your own supplies to support this crucial effort!" So, Tao Kan supplied the army with 50,000 stones of rice.
Zu Huan launched a surprise attack on Penkou, trying to disrupt Wen Qiao's army. Zu Huan passed through Wandi and attacked the local historian Huan Yun of Qiaoguo, but was unable to capture it and retreated. Su Jun concentrated his forces to attack Daye, and the water supply in Daye had run dry, forcing the soldiers to drink contaminated water. The generals discussed how to provide aid but found it challenging, and they wanted to attack Su Jun from both water and land. Tao Kan led the navy to attack Shitou City, and Wen Qiao and Yu Liang prepared their formations at Baishi. Su Jun's son Su Shuo led dozens of cavalry into battle. Seeing his son's cavalry fighting, Su Jun abandoned most of his troops, charging into battle from the north on four horses, but the enemy's defenses were too strong, forcing him to retreat. Soldiers Peng Shi and Li Qian stabbed Su Jun with a spear, causing him to fall off his horse, and he was ultimately beheaded, dismembered, and his remains were burned. Ren Rang and other bandit leaders appointed Su Jun's younger brother Su Yi as the leader. They wanted to find Su Jun's body but couldn't locate it, so they exhumed his parents' graves, broke open the coffins, and cremated the remains. Kuang Shu took control of Yuancheng and surrendered. Han Guang, Su Shuo, and others led the army to attack Yuancheng, which was already on the brink of starvation, with only forty thousand bushels of grain. Various generals launched assaults on Shitou City. Su Shuo and Prince Zhanwu Xiuxi led a contingent of elite soldiers to ambush Li Yang at Zapu. Li Yang retreated, and Su Shuo and others pursued, but Yu Bing's Sima Tenghan led elite soldiers to attack them from behind. Su Shuo, Su Yi, and others faced a crushing defeat and retreated to Qu'e. Teng Han broke through the encirclement to rescue Su Yan, allowing him to escape to Wen Qiao's ship. After the war concluded, the palaces lay in ruins. The council debated relocating the capital, but Wang Dao opposed the idea, and it was ultimately shelved. Su Yan declared the start of the Xiankang era.
During the years of the founding, Emperor Sima Yan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty died. The Minister of the Central Secretariat, Yu Bing, deposed Sima Yan's son, Sima Qianling, and instead made Sima Yan's brother, Sima Yue, the emperor, and changed the era name to Jianyuan. Initially, after Sima Yue ascended to the throne and sought to change the era name, Yu Bing wanted to come up with one himself. However, he discovered that this era name had already been used in the Jin Dynasty. He thought of another, but it turned out to be the same as the previous one. Finally, it was decided to be Jianyuan. After some time, someone told Yu Bing, "Did you not consult the prophecies when you chose this era name? The prophecies state, 'At the end of Jianyuan, Qiu Mountain will collapse.' Qiu Mountain refers to you!" Yu Bing was taken aback; after a long moment, he sighed and said, "If fortunes and misfortunes exist, can changing an era name truly save us?" So he stopped changing the era name.
After Sima Yue's death, Yu Bing wanted to make Sima Yu the emperor. However, General He Chong of the Cavalry instead proclaimed Sima Yue's son, Sima Dan, as emperor, changing the era name to Yonghe. While Sima Dan reigned as emperor, General Huan Wen of Anxi led more than seven thousand troops to attack the Shu area. He submitted a direct memorial and then set out with his troops. Sima Dan had little power and was unable to control Huan Wen at all. After the death of Shi Hu, Sima Dan's General Who Conquers the North, Chu Pou, brought a navy to Xiaoping, while the General of the Western Army, Chen Kui, occupied Huainan. Upon hearing that Chu Pou had arrived at Xiaoping, Shi Zun sent the Minister of Works, Li Nong, with over ten thousand cavalry to besiege the supervisor Wang Gan in Xue, captured Wang Gan and took him to Ye city, and also killed Li Mai. Wang Gan was a formidable general under Chu Pou, and the army's morale plummeted, forcing Chu Pou to withdraw his troops. Upon hearing this, Chen Kui was terrified, set fire to the camp in Huainan, and fled.
Huan Wen submitted a petition requesting the removal of Sima Dan and the appointment of Yin Hao, the governor of Yangzhou, as the new emperor. Sima Dan, fearing Huan Wen, agreed and removed Yin Hao from his post. Huan Wen then marched out with 40,000 infantry and cavalry from Yingdu, crossed the Hangu Pass, and reached the banks of the Ba. Fu Jian only had over fifty men guarding the small city of Chang'an, and that year there was a severe shortage of food, leading to severe hunger in Huan Wen's army. The soldiers were starving, while Fu Jian dug deep ditches and built strong fortifications to secure the area, waiting for Huan Wen's forces to exhaust their supplies and retreat. Later, Fu Jian sent his son Fu Chang to defeat Huan Wen's army. Initially, Huan Wen was stationed at the Ba, and his general Zhenwu and Shunyang's governor Xue Zhen advised him to directly attack Chang'an City. Huan Wen did not listen, so Xue Zhen took a portion of the troops and crossed the river to attack on his own, winning some battles. After Huan Wen retreated, Xue Zhen returned and bragged about his bravery to anyone who would listen, blaming Huan Wen for being overly cautious. Huan Wen, feeling both ashamed and angry, executed Xue Zhen. Sima Dan then renamed the era to Shengping.
When Sima Dan died without a son, he established Sima Yan's son Sima Pi as emperor, with the era name Longhe. At that time, rumors circulated saying, "Shengping will not last long, how long can Longhe last?" Thus, the era name was changed to Xingning, which led to more rumors claiming, "Even if it is changed to Xingning, there will still be no hope." After Sima Pi died, his brother Sima Yi ascended the throne, with the era name Taihe.
Huan Wen marched his troops north to confront Murong Wei. Upon reaching Jinxing, he had a canal excavated through more than three hundred li of the Juyhe to enable the fleet to transport troops from the Qingshui into the Yellow River. In turn, Murong Chui countered and defeated him, seizing a considerable amount of military supplies from Huan Wen.
When Huan Wen headed north, he had previously ordered Western General Yuan Zhen and Zhao Yue to open the stone gate to facilitate the passage of the army. However, Yuan Zhen and the others stopped at Liang Song, the stone gate was not opened, and supplies were running low. Huan Wen was forced to withdraw his troops from Fangtou, and Murong Chui led tens of thousands of troops to chase them to Xiangyi, where they defeated Huan Wen's army.
In a fit of anger, Huan Wen placed all the blame on Yuan Zhen, removed him from his position, stripped him of his rank, and took back his military power. Yuan Zhen's son Yuan Shuang and others killed the Interior Minister Zhu Xian of Liang State, while Yuan Zhen himself launched a rebellion in Shouyang. Yuan Zhen's sons and brothers all led troops to protect themselves, and they also gained the support of the Lucheng garrison and the Prefect of Chen County, Zhu Fu, totaling several thousand men. They sent the officer Cuan Liang to contact Murong Wei and sent envoys to surrender to Fu Jian. Later, Yuan Zhen died of illness, and Zhu Fu supported Yuan Zhen's son Yuan Jin as General of Pacification, General of Valor, and Inspector of Yuzhou. Yuan Jin's brothers also led troops. Murong Wei sent Chen Wen to report to Cuan Liang and observe the changing situation.
Huan Wen sent Zhu Yao to lead his troops along the Huai River to attack Yuan Jin. When Zhu Yao reached Feikou, he engaged in numerous battles against Yuan Jin's forces. Murong Wei appointed Yuan Jin as General Who Conquers the South, Inspector of Yangzhou, and Duke of Xuancheng. Yuan Jin's brothers were also appointed as county magistrates and generals of the fourth rank, and Zhu Fu was also promoted. Only then did Huan Wen personally attack Yuan Jin. Yuan Jin and the others resisted, so Huan Wen surrounded them. The city's inhabitants were terrified, but in the end, Huan Wen ultimately captured Yuan Jin's city, effectively quelling the rebellion.
At first, Wen Qiao held significant power in the court and served as both a general and a minister, but he was dissatisfied with the imperial court, as evident from his words and actions. Once, he lay in bed and said to the officials beside him, "If I continue to be so mediocre, I'll end up being the laughingstock of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing!" Everyone was frightened and dared not speak. Later, Wen Qiao led a large army north to suppress a rebellion, hoping to seize the throne in the process. As a result, he faced a crushing defeat at Fangtou and realized that the people had already turned against him. After putting down the rebellion led by Su Jun, he asked the Zhongshu Lang Qi Chao, "Can we wash away the shame of the battle at Fangtou this time?" Qi Chao replied, "This is still far from enough to calm the concerns of the knowledgeable. You are already sixty years old, and this major military campaign has ended in failure. If you do not establish an unprecedented achievement, it will not be enough to stabilize the people's hearts." Then, Qi Chao suggested to Wen Qiao to depose the emperor. Wen Qiao had already considered this idea, so he fully accepted Qi Chao's suggestion.
Wen Qiao returned to Gushou from Guangling to take command. When he arrived at Baishi, he started spreading rumors that Emperor Sima Yi had fallen ill, just like the eunuchs. It was said that during his early years in Donghai and Langya, he had favored and cherished eunuchs like Xiang Long and Zhu Lingbao, even letting them sleep with him, while the beauties Tian and Meng had borne him three sons. People talked a lot about it, but no one could verify if it was true. At this time, Wen Qiao was preparing to name a successor, and he leveraged this rumor to carry out his plan to depose the emperor. Thus, he led the officials back to the court. Wen Qiao entered the palace with the crowd, the army was stationed at the palace gate, while he himself sat in the hall and sent the supervisor Zhu Yao and the attendant Liu Heng to retrieve the emperor's jade seal and insignia. Sima Yi, clad in a light white robe, stepped down from the Western Hall and climbed onto the ox cart. The ministers bid him farewell, all of them crying uncontrollably. More than a hundred officials, including the attendant Yu Shi, escorted him out through the Shenhu Gate and into the Donghai Prince's residence.
Then, Wen Qiao proclaimed Sima Yu as the emperor. Sima Yu was the son of Sima Rui. Sima Yu wept towards the east, accepting the jade seal and the imperial insignia. After Sima Yu usurped the throne, he renamed the era Xian'an. As Wen Qiao drew inspiration from the story of Zhuge Liang, he entered the palace in armor and was appointed Prime Minister. Other officials, such as the Grand Marshal, retained their positions to continue guarding Jianye. Sima Yi was then appointed Duke of Haixi County.
Wen Qiao harbored great ambitions, yet his heart was troubled. He said to the Palace Attendant Xi Chao, "The length of life is not something I consider, so shouldn't I let go of the present matters?" Xi Chao's father, Xi Yin, was the Governor of Kuaiji. Xi Chao returned to the east on leave, and Wen Qiao said to him, "Please convey my respects to your esteemed father. The state affairs have come to such a pass. It is all because I could not uphold righteousness and assist in advance. I feel a deep sense of shame and sorrow. How can I possibly express this?" He then recited a poem by Yu Chan, "A man of ambition laments the peril of the morning; a loyal minister grieves the disgrace of his lord." As he spoke, Wen Qiao began to cry.
Wen Qiao fell ill and wrote to me, saying, "I am critically ill. Hurry over; I hope to see you one last time. I did not expect the illness to develop to this extent. Now I am barely hanging on, fearing I won’t have much longer to live. Even if an imperial decree were to arrive, it might be too late. My heart is filled with grief and regret; how can I express it? The situation in the world is difficult, and Changming is young and ignorant. Without someone like you to guide and mentor him, how can we stabilize the world? I entrust both state affairs and my family matters to you!"
After Wen Qiao's death, his son Wen Changming seized power and declared himself emperor. A low-ranking official named Lu Song from Xuzhou, along with his two hundred followers, attacked Guangmo Gate at dawn, falsely claiming that the Duke of Haixi had returned. They entered the palace through Wanchun Gate and Yunlong Gate, looting weapons and armor from the armory and three chambers. At that time, most military officers were off duty or part-time, leaving the officials and soldiers on duty stunned and confused. General Mao Anzhi was the first to enter Yunlong Gate to confront Lu Song, with Chief General Huan Mi and General Yin Kang entering through the Chemen Gate to join forces in fighting against the rebels. They killed fifty-six rebels and captured the rest, amounting to hundreds killed overall. Chief Official Xu Long and Lu Song both sent people to Wu to feign welcoming Emperor Jin Jianwen Sima Yu, but Sima Yu did not agree. Wen Changming changed the reign title to Ningkang, summoned Wen Qiao to the court, and issued an edict dismissing Wen Qiao from his official position. Shangshu Xie An and others met Wen Qiao at Xinting and showed him great respect. Wen Qiao went to pay respects at his grave, fell ill upon returning, and went back to Gushu. Sensing his impending death, Wen Qiao secretly prepared the items for the Nine Rites. Xie An had already instructed Lang Yuan Yanbo from the Ministry of Personnel to draft a memorial, which Xie An carefully revised word for word before repeatedly refining it. Due to multiple delays, Xie An discussed with Chief Secretary Wang Biaozhi, who said, "I’ve heard his condition is getting worse every day. We can delay this matter a little bit." Xie An agreed. Ultimately, Wen Qiao passed away.
Fu Jian sent Fu Ya with Generals Wang Tong, Zhu Tong, Yang An, and Yao Chang, leading fifty thousand infantry and cavalry to attack Governor Yang Zuan of Qinzhou at Luogu. Yang Zuan sought help from Yang Liang, the Governor of Liangzhou, who sent his aide Bu Jing to support him, but Bu Jing was defeated and fled. After Zhu Tong arrived in Liangzhou, Yang Liang fled upon hearing the news, allowing Fu Jian to easily take over Liangzhou and Yizhou. The people of Changming (Eastern Jin) were filled with fear and anxiety. In the thirty-ninth year of Jian Guo, Changming changed its era name to Taiyuan.
In the seventh year of Taizu, Fu Jian launched a massive campaign against Changming and proclaimed to them, "The southeastern region will soon be pacified; I plan to appoint Sima Changming as the Minister of Works (Shangshu Pushe), so hurry and build him a mansion!" Fu Jian had previously built mansions for captives such as Zhang Tianxi, so they could move in immediately upon arrival. However, Fu Jian suffered a defeat and fled upon reaching Huainan.
At that time, Changming was elderly and had a fondness for drinking and women, while his brother, Prince Daozi of Kuaiji, served as prime minister, behaving even more foolishly and irresponsibly, surrounded by flatterers. Nuns and prostitutes colluded inside and outside the palace, stirring up trouble and corrupting social morals, leading people to lose their sense of shame. At the wedding of the son of Left Equerry Wang Xun, hundreds of carriages arrived for the guests, and upon hearing that Wang Ya had become the Tutor to the Crown Prince, half of the guests turned to visit Wang Ya. Wang Ya was already favored, so people's choices reflected this. In the first year of Huangshi, Changming passed away, and his son Dezong seized the throne.
At first, Chang Ming was immersed in wine and women. In his later years, he almost drank all night every day, seldom sober, and few outsiders could see him. So he mostly stayed in the inner palace, lingering at banquets. He especially favored a concubine named Zhang Shi, bestowing upon her the title of noblewoman, the highest position in the harem, and she held significant sway. At that time, Chang Ming was probably in his thirties. He often showed off in front of many singers and dancers, and the concubines who accompanied him were considerably younger. He mocked Zhang Shi, saying, "You're getting old, you should be replaced. I've set my eyes on those younger girls." Zhang Shi felt a surge of anger within, but Chang Ming didn't notice and continued to mock her. In the evening, when Chang Ming was a bit drunk, Zhang Shi secretly distributed alcohol to the eunuchs and servants in the palace. At night, when Chang Ming passed out, Zhang Shi had her maids drape a blanket over him. After Chang Ming died, Zhang Shi grew fearful and bribed those around her, saying that Chang Ming died from a nightmare. At that time, Dao Zi was inept, and his son Yuan Xian held power, so Zhang Shi was not held accountable for her actions.
After De Zong became emperor, he changed the reign title to Long'an. He promoted Dao Zi to Grand Tutor, Governor of Yangzhou, and Director of the Palace Library, giving him special privileges such as the Yellow Battle-axe, feathered fan, and court musicians. He even increased the number of soldiers allowed to guard the palace to one hundred. From then on, almost all major decisions inside and outside the court had to be approved by Dao Zi.
The Supervisor of the Left, Wang Guobao, was frivolous and unreliable, but he earned Dao Zi's trust and favor. His power in Jianye was vast, even taking control of the troops in the Eastern Palace to bolster his own standing. Dao Zi also appointed Wang Xu as the General of the Supporting State and the Interior Minister of Langye, entrusting him with command of the troops in Shitoucheng and stationed in Jianye. Wang Xu also served as Chamberlain for the Imperial Carriages, was influential in the court, enjoyed great favor, and exercised considerable power.
Wang Gong, this fellow, was fed up with the chaos created by Guobao and Wang Xu, so he decided to team up with the governor of Jingzhou, Yin Zhongkan, to get rid of them. He submitted a memorial to Emperor Dezong, accusing Guobao and stating, "That scoundrel Guobao is guilty of terrible crimes, and I must speak out against him! His brother Wang Yue was previously the governor of Jingzhou and ended up dying in the west. Guobao took advantage of this to claim he was in mourning, but he completely disregarded the proper way. Worried about being investigated and losing his post, he even dressed up as a woman and secretly rode in a carriage with a maid to meet the Prince of Xiang! Even worse, when the late emperor died, while everyone else was in tears, he remained calm and showed no signs of sorrow, even going to the palace gate to hatch some schemes, forging edicts to usurp power! This situation became common knowledge. He is more envious of his two brothers than he is of his enemies; he forms factions, and he has infiltrated the entire court. He has embezzled the country's resources and provisions; he sells official titles and rules oppressively. He also recruits those who are derelict in their duties and gathers desperate outlaws. General Wang Xu, the State's Aid, is even more ruthless and brutal, and no one respects him. These two collude to seize power. They are aware their sins are serious and have incited public outrage, and they are planning a treasonous rebellion to overthrow the regime! While my abilities may be limited, I would never forget this principle!"
After Wang Gong's memorial was submitted, Xie An secretly plotted against Wang Gong and appointed Yuan Xian as the General of the Conquest, secretly mobilizing troops and preparing for battle. Guobao was in a panic and felt utterly helpless, so he sent a few hundred men to guard Zhuli, but they encountered wind and rain in the middle of the night, resulting in the troops scattering. Wang Xu advised Guobao to kill Wang Xun and then launch campaigns to the south and north, but Guobao did not listen and instead consulted Wang Xun. Later, Guobao became frightened and submitted his resignation. After a while, he regretted it and pretended that the emperor had restored him to his original position. Xie An, unable to resist Wang Gong and the others, sought to shift the blame onto Guobao, so he arrested Guobao and turned him over to the court for execution, while Wang Xu was executed in broad daylight in the bustling market to appease Wang Gong and his faction.
Wang Xun, the Left Chief Historian, lost his mother and was observing mourning in Wu, so Wang Gong sent him to be the Governor of Wu. Wang Xun then recruited soldiers from various counties in Wuxing. After Guobao's death, Wang Gong urged Wang Xun to take advantage of the mourning period to rebel. Wang Xun recognized this as a rare opportunity to make his mark, so he occupied Wujun and sent his son to attack Wang Gong. He also conferred the title of General Zhenlie on his daughter, setting up a command in the capital to safeguard his forces. Wang Gong sent Sima Liu Lao to quell Wang Xun's rebellion.
The brothers of Qiao Wang and Monk spoke to Xie An, stating that the local feudal lords had grown powerful and the chancellor's authority was too weak, advising him to secretly build his own power for protection. Xie An found their reasoning sound and dispatched some trusted aides to occupy key locations throughout the region, creating unrest among both officials and the public.
Wang Gong was well aware that this would lead to disaster, so he secretly contacted Yin Zhongkan, the West General Yu Kai, and the Governor of Guangzhou Huan Xuan, preparing to meet in Jianye. Huan Xuan and the others agreed. Wang Gong submitted a memorial to impeach them, claiming that the Governor of Jiangzhou Wang Yu and Sima Shangzhi were the root causes of the chaos, and then issued a decree. Yin Zhongkan sent General Longxiang and the Prefect of Nanjun Yang Quanqi to lead five thousand naval forces from Jiangling; Huan Xuan borrowed troops from Yin Zhongkan and also received five thousand men.
At this point, Xie Shi quickly imposed martial law in the region and bestowed upon Xie An the yellow seal (symbolizing the highest military command), sending General Xie Yan to resist Wang Gong and the others, while Yuan Xian served as the commander for the expedition. The main army gradually advanced, with the advance guard led by Wang Xun stationed in the northern suburbs; Shangzhi was appointed as the Governor of Yuzhou, leading his brothers, Huizhi and Yunzhi, westward to attack Yu Kai and others. They all carried the White Tiger banner and led the way. Wang Gong sent Liu Laozhi as the advance guard, stationed in Zhuli. At first, Xie An promised Liu Laozhi many benefits to sow discord between Liu Laozhi and Wang Gong, leading Liu Laozhi to kill Wang Gong's deputy Yan Yan and Yan Yan's brother Yan Qiang, sending their heads to Xie Yan. Xie Yan and Liu Laozhi launched an attack against Wang Gong, who fled to Qu'a, where he was captured by the County Lieutenant of Hupu and sent to Jianye. Shangzhi and Yu Kai's son Yu Hong fought at Niuzhu, where Shangzhi killed Yu Hong's vanguard commander Yin Wan, causing Yu Hong to flee back to Liyang. However, Shangzhi did not dare to cross the Yangtze River. Huan Xuan and Yang Quanqi suddenly appeared by the Yangtze River, forcing Shangzhi and his forces to retreat, and all the forces under Huizhi's command were captured. Huan Xuan and the others dire
Yuan Xian became the governor of Yangzhou, and at that time, Dao Zisheng became ill. Yuan Xian was afraid that he would not inherit the throne, so he secretly elevated his status, without Dao Zisheng's knowledge. After Dao Zisheng recovered from his illness, he was furious, but since Yuan Xian had already taken office, he did not take any action. From then on, Yuan Xian became the sole decision-maker for all matters, big and small, both in and out of the court. Dao Zisheng had a fondness for drinking in his youth and gradually became less involved in political affairs. People referred to Dao Zisheng as "East Record" and Yuan Xian as "West Record." The West Mansion (Yuan Xian's residence) buzzed with activity, while the East Mansion (Dao Zisheng's residence) was eerily quiet. Yuan Xian, at a young age, seized great power, became increasingly extravagant and indulgent, and was criticized by people near and far for his tyranny.
Earlier, during the reign of Emperor Dezong, Sun Tai, the magistrate of Xin'an, was executed for leading the people astray with heretical teachings, and his nephew Sun En fled to an isolated island. Sun En's followers of the heretical teachings gathered and attacked Shangyu, seeking to seize control of the county magistrate, with over a hundred people heading towards Shanyin. Wang Ning, the Interior Minister of Kuaiji, followed the Way of the Five Bushels of Rice. When Sun En arrived, Wang Ning failed to send troops to resist, but instead went to the Taoist temple to pay his respects, kneeling and reciting spells, pointing and gesturing in the air as if he were being directed by someone. His subordinates urged him to confront Sun En, but Wang Ning said, "I have already summoned the soldiers of the Dao, with tens of thousands of troops at every important crossing!" As Sun En's army drew closer, Wang Ning finally agreed to send troops. By the time the army set out, Sun En had already arrived. The army suffered defeat; Wang Ning fled, and he was captured two days later. Ten days later, Sun En's forces had swelled to tens of thousands, and he declared himself General of the East, forcing the locals to become his subordinates. As a result, various counties were overrun by monsters and demons, who murdered local officials in allegiance to Sun En, gathering many followers. Huan Qian, the Interior Minister of Wu, fled, and Xie Mao, the magistrate of Wuxing, was killed.
Since the reign of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, there has been disunity and moral decay within the court. In the area south of the Yangtze River, except for Shitoucheng (Nanjing), all regions were under the authority of the officials of Jingzhou and Jiangzhou; the regions west of the Yangtze River were under the authority of Yuzhou; and the area around Jingkou (Zhenjiang) and north of the Yangtze River was controlled by the Governor of Yanzhou, Liu Laozhi, and others. The decrees of Emperor Dezong could only be effectively implemented in the three Wu prefectures of Jiangnan. After Sun En rebelled, the eight counties all became the territory of bandits, uprisings occurred everywhere, and Jianye (Nanjing) was facing grave peril. Moreover, many monstrous figures were lurking in the city, causing the people to live in fear and worry about sudden attacks by bandits.
Therefore, the military strengthened their guard, and Liu Laozhi and General Wei Xie Yan led troops to suppress Sun En. Sun En's army did not obey orders at all, burning, killing, and looting everywhere, leading to countless civilian casualties. They even chopped up the county magistrate and fed him to their wives and children. Those who refused to comply were dismembered, demonstrating unspeakable brutality! Even before the Chief of the Cavalry, Wang Ping, was buried, Sun En opened his coffin, burned his body, and used his head as a grotesque trophy. Liu Laozhi's army defeated a part of Sun En's army. When Xie Yan was about to reach Wuxing, the remnants of Sun En's shattered forces fled, forcing the common people to flee with them to Shanyin. Those families harmed by the monsters and bandits, especially the women, were left in a dire state. Those who did not have time to escape dressed their babies in fine clothes and threw them into the water, saying as they threw them, "May you ascend to the realm of the immortals quickly; I will join you later!"
After the bandits dispersed, the houses had all been burned down, and there was hardly a soul to be seen inside or outside the city. It took several months for people to gradually return. Xie Yan was stationed in Wucheng and dispatched his general Gao Su to support Liu Laozi. Liu Laozi led his army across the Yangtze River. Initially, upon hearing that the eight prefectures had rallied to his uprising, Sun En told his subordinates, “The fate of the world has been decided; we should wear our official robes and go directly to Jianye to claim kingship!” But after hearing that Liu Laozi had crossed the Yangtze River, he then said, “I hold Zhejiang; I can make a comeback like Goujian!” When he discovered that Liu Laozi had already crossed the river, he finally said, “It’s not shameful to run away!” And so he fled. On his escape, Sun En abandoned many treasures, which caused Liu Laozi's soldiers to fail to pursue him effectively. Sun En ultimately escaped into the sea.
At first, the Jiangnan Sanwu region was severely afflicted by Sun En's tyranny, and everyone was hoping for rescue from Liu Laozi, Gao Su, and others. However, after they arrived, they wantonly plundered and acted tyrannically, causing the common people to voice their grievances and feel utterly disillusioned.
Sun En rallied a large group of followers at sea, and these people followed him to rebel. They first broke through Yongjia and Linhai, then advanced into Shanyin, where General Xie Yan fell in battle. Panic broke out i
At the same time, Yuan Xian was appointed as General of the Rear, Chief Minister, and Commander of the Sixteen Provinces, while keeping his previous titles; his son Yuan Yanzhang was appointed as King of Donghai, overseeing more than forty thousand households in Wuxing. Yuan Xian also carefully selected a group of civil and military officials, arranging for them to serve by his side. Sun En suddenly appeared at Jingkou by boat, leading an army of a staggering hundred thousand soldiers! General Liu Laozhi was trapped in Shanyin at the time, and the troops were too afraid to return. Sun En went straight towards Jianye. The Emperor was frightened and quickly summoned the Inspector of Yuzhou, Sima Shangzhi. At that time, both the court and the common people were in a state of panic, but Yuan Xian continued to host lavish banquets, while Daozi spent his days fervently praying at Zhongshan Temple. Sun En's army was getting closer and closer, and the common people were quaking in fear. Sima Shangzhi arrived with his elite troops and set up camp at Jitang. Sun En faced strong headwinds, slowing his progress, and it took several days for him to reach Baishi. Sun En originally thought that the various armies were scattered and wanted to catch them off guard, but he did not expect that Sima Shangzhi was still in Jianye and heard that Liu Laozhi had not returned. He hesitated to launch a rash attack on Jianye, so he turned towards Yuzhou. Sun En's subordinate Lu Xun captured Guangling, plundered the region, and then withdrew.
Huan Xuan heard that Sun En was approaching Jianye, so he quickly set up camp and called on the court to allow him to attack Sun En. Before Sun En returned, Huan Xuan's memorial arrived, which terrified Yuan Xian and his associates, who hurriedly dispatched someone to halt Huan Xuan. Yu Kai secretly conspired with Yuan Xian, saying that Huan Xuan was unpopular and no one listened to him, and if the court sent troops, he would definitely have inside support. Yuan Xian was overjoyed when he read the letter and sent Zhang Fashun to discuss with Liu Laozhi, who agreed. So they began to recruit soldiers and build ships to prepare for an attack on Huan Xuan. The emperor changed the era name to "Dixing" and granted Yuan Xian the title of Grand Commander to attack Huan Xuan. When Huan Xuan's army arrived, Yuan Xian suffered a defeat without engaging in battle, and both father and son were killed by Huan Xuan. Later, the era name was changed to "Daheng."
In October 402 AD, Emperor Dezong sent envoys to the capital. Emperor Dezong granted Huan Xuan the title of King of Chu, but Huan Xuan soon forced Dezong to abdicate the throne. Dezong was forced to move to Yong'an Palace. After seizing the throne, Huan Xuan granted Dezong the title of Marquis of Pinggu County in Nankang, where he was to reside in Xunyang. In 403 AD, Dezong first stayed in Gushu and only arrived in Xunyang in February. At that time, Liu Yu, the Interior Minister of Pengcheng, killed Huan Xiu, the governor of Huan Xuan's territory, and then joined forces with Liu Yi and others to revolt against Huan Xuan.
After his defeat, Huan Xuan fled to Xunyang, taking Dezong and his brothers with him, then continued to escape to Jiangling and later to Jingzhou. The Deputy of Jingzhou, Wang Kangchan, and the Prime Minister of Nanjun, Wang Tengzhi, welcomed Dezong to the Nanjun Prefecture. Eventually, Huan Xuan met his end. However, Huan Zhen, one of Huan Xuan's generals, captured Jiangling, killed Wang Kangchan and Wang Tengzhi, and plotted to kill Dezong, but Huan Qian, the governor of Yangzhou and the King of Xin'an, intervened to prevent it.
At that time, Lu Xun captured Wu Yinzhi, the governor of Guangzhou under Emperor Dezong, declared himself General of Pacifying the South and the governor of Guangzhou, and allowed his subordinate Xu Daofu to occupy Shixing, while also placing his trusted aides in charge of other counties. Emperor Dezong fled to Jiangling and declared himself emperor again, changing the era name to Yixi. When the official Tao Kui was escorting Emperor Dezong to Banqiao, they suddenly encountered a storm, causing the dragon boat (a type of ceremonial boat) to sink, leading to the deaths of over ten people. On his way from Jiangling to Xunyang, the governor of Yizhou, Mao Qu, and the military advisor Qiao Zong rebelled, capturing Fucheng, and Yizhou thus broke away from Emperor Dezong's control. Emperor Dezong set out from Gushou and returned to Jianye. In June, Liu Yu sent troops to attack He Shen, the governor of Julu under Emperor Dezong, and He Shen opened the city gates to surrender.
In 405 AD, Lu Xun again raised troops in Lingnan and killed He Wuji, the governor of Jiangzhou under Emperor Dezong, in Shicheng. Everyone urged Emperor Dezong to make a run for it to the north, but since they knew Lu Xun hadn’t attacked yet, they hesitated. Liu Yu ordered General Liu Yi to campaign against Lu Xun, but was defeated at Sangluozhou and forced to retreat. Liu Yu's subordinates, Meng Chang and Zhuge Changmin, advised Liu Yu to take Emperor Dezong across the river, but Liu Yu did not agree.
In 406 AD, Emperor Dezong sent General Xuanwen and Shi Qi to pay tribute. During the Tai Chang period, Liu Yu campaigned against Yao Hong. In 407 AD, Liu Yu sent Changsun Daosheng and E Qing to defeat Yao Hong's general Zhu Chaoshi at Shihe, capturing the cavalry commander Yang Feng and executing over 1,700 captives.
Three years later, Emperor Dezong died, and his brother Dewen usurped the throne to become emperor. Four years later, in the fifth year of the Yuanxi reign, Dewen abdicated the throne to Liu Yu and was granted the title of Prince of Lingling. Dewen's wife was Chu Shi from Henan, and his brothers Jizhi and Danzhi, although relatives of Dewen, wholeheartedly assisted Liu Yu. Every time Dewen had a son, he would secretly have them murdered, and he would deceive and poison the palace women. Later, Dewen was deposed and imprisoned in the Moling Palace. He lived in fear of being killed, so he and Chu Shi stayed in the same room, and he took it upon himself to cook their meals to avoid poisoning.
Six years later, Liu Yu planned to kill Dewen. He had his soldiers climb over the walls to deliver poison to Dewen, who refused to drink it, saying, "In Buddhism, those who take their own lives cannot be reborn." In the end, he was suffocated with a blanket.
From Sima Rui's usurpation of power in Jiangnan to Dewen's death, the monarchs' weakness and the ministers' strength led to chaos in the court, where rewards and punishments were in the hands of powerful ministers. The emperor was deposed, and turmoil continued. This illustrates the saying: even barbarian rulers can endure, while our Central Plains dynasty is on the path to destruction.
Li Xiong, style name Zhongjun, was a descendant of the Lin clan. His ancestors lived in Dangqu, Baxi. After the unification of the Qin Dynasty, Li Xiong's ancestors were titled the Lord of Qianzhong, with very low taxes for the people, only collecting thirty coins per household. The Ba people referred to taxes as "zong," so Li Xiong adopted this as his surname. Later, they relocated to Liyang. His grandfather was named Li Mu, a hunting general of the Eastern Qiang tribe in the Wei Kingdom. Li Mu had five sons: Fu, Te, Xiang, Liu, and Xiang.
During the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, the Guansi region was plagued by constant warfare and several years of persistent famine. The Li brothers, Li Te and Li Liu, led tens of thousands of refugees to Hanzhong in search of food and then entered the Bashu region. At that time, Zhao Qun, the governor of Yizhou under the Jin dynasty, rebelled, and the Li brothers raised an army to attack him. The Jin dynasty appointed Li Te as General of Xuanwei and Marquis of Changle, while Li Liu was appointed as General of Fenwei and Marquis of Wuyang. The leader of the refugees, Yan Shi, and others elected Li Te as General of the Northern Expedition, and the court authorized his titles and ranks, with Li Liu being appointed General of the Eastern Expedition. Later, they fought against Luo Shang, the governor of Yizhou under the Jin dynasty. In the seventh year of Emperor Zhao of Jin, Li Te proclaimed himself Grand General and Grand Commander, renaming the era to Jianchu. As a result, he was defeated and killed by Luo Shang, and Li Liu inherited his military power. Li Liu, who was known as Xuantong, also proclaimed himself Grand Commander and General. When Li Liu fell seriously ill, he entrusted future matters to Li Xiong, who was the youngest son of Li Te.
It is said that Li Xiong, the Emperor of Cheng Han, self-styled Grand Commander and General, ten years later simply called himself King of Chengdu, with the era name Jianxing, and set up a comprehensive bureaucratic system. At that time, there was a man from Fuling named Fan Changsheng, who was knowledgeable in fortune-telling and physiognomy, and Li Xiong particularly trusted him. Fan Changsheng even encouraged Li Xiong to declare himself emperor. Twelve years later, Li Xiong really did declare himself emperor, with the era name Dacheng, which was later changed to Yanping, and he appointed Fan Changsheng as Grand Tutor of Heaven and Earth as well as Chancellor, granting him the title of King of Xishan. Not long after, he changed the era name to Yuheng. Because the Central Plains were in chaos at that time, Li Xiong often sent people to present tribute to the Eastern Jin emperor and discussed plans to divide the realm with Emperor Mu of Jin! Li Xiong originally intended to establish his own son as crown prince but instead appointed Li Ban, the fourth son of his brother Li Dang, as crown prince.
Li Xiong died after six years on the throne, and Li Ban ascended the throne. However, Li Xiong's son Li Qi killed Li Ban and became emperor himself. Li Qi, styled Shiyun, was the fourth son of Li Xiong. After becoming emperor, he changed the reign title to Yuheng. Later, another son of Li Xiong, Li Shou, marched from Fucheng to Chengdu, deposed Li Qi from the throne, and stripped him of the title of Duke of Qiongdou. Li Qi ultimately ended his own life.
Li Shou, styled Wukao, was previously a great general under Li Xiong and was titled King of Jianning, overseeing the twelve prefectures of Nanzhong. When Li Qi became emperor, Li Shou's title was changed to King of Han. After deposing Li Qi, Li Shou became emperor himself, changing the era name to Han Xing and the state name to Han, which marked the founding year of the Han dynasty. After becoming emperor, Governor Li Qian of Guanghan conspired with the ministers to depose Li Shou. Worried about his position, Li Shou had his son Li Guang swear an oath before the ministers in the hall. Hearing that Ye City (present-day Linzhang, Hebei) was prosperous and wealthy, with splendid palaces, and that Shi Hu maintained control over the world through slaughter, Li Shou was particularly envious. He thought that in Ye City, anyone who made a small mistake would be executed by Shi Hu to establish authority, which was a ruthless method! He also found the outskirts of Chengdu desolate, and the city empty, lacking enough craftsmen and tools. Therefore, he forced the adult males of Chengdu to come and build palaces for him, establishing various offices and royal residences, and he even compelled craftsmen from various states and prefectures to work for him. Li Shou made grand constructions, built palaces, and diverted water into the city, living in extreme luxury. The common people were exhausted and full of grievances, with nine out of ten families wanting to rebel. His chancellor, Zuo Pushe Cai Xing, openly advised him, but Li Shou thought Cai Xing was slandering him and had him killed. A minister named Gong Zhuang wrote seven poems mocking Li Shou and falsely claimed they were written by Ying Qu. After reading the poems, Li Shou said, "I understand the meaning of the poems. If they were written by contemporary people, they are the words of wise men; if written by ancient people, they are the nonsensical ramblings of the dead!" Li Shou particularly admired the governance methods of Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Ming of Wei, thinking the achievements of his father and brother were too shameful, so he prohibited others from mentioning their accomplishments in memorials, believing he was much better than them. Later, when Li Shou became ill, he remembered the good things about Li Qi and Cai Xing, and he eventually died, and his son Li Shi succeeded him.
It is said that Liu Shan, the last ruler of Shu Han, whose courtesy name was Zi Ren. After ascending the throne, he first changed the reign title to Tai He and sent envoys to pay tribute. Later, he changed the reign title to Jia Ning. His younger brother, Prince Liu Guang, requested to be made crown prince since Liu Shan had no sons, but Liu Shan did not agree. Liu Guang plotted rebellion, and Liu Shan sent the Grand Guardian Li Yi to Fucheng to suppress him, resulting in Liu Guang's defeat and demotion to Marquis of Linqiong, and he subsequently committed suicide.
Liu Shan was a proud, stingy man who was also addicted to alcohol and women. He even resorted to murder to take another man's wife and married Li Yi's daughter as empress. He indulged in pleasures all day, neglecting state affairs, resulting in annual famines and shrinking territory. He was suspicious and cruel, meting out severe punishments. He marginalized his relatives and veteran officials, only favoring close confidants who took advantage of their positions. Liu Shan liked to decorate palaces, ignoring the warnings of his advisors. He rarely met with officials and spent most of his time in the palace. Historians repeatedly warned of impending disasters, so Liu Shan promoted Dong Jiao to Grand Commander, seemingly rewarding him, but in reality, shifting the blame for impending disasters onto him.
In the tenth year of the founding of the country, Sima Yan sent Huan Wen to lead the army to attack Shu, and Liu Chan surrendered to Huan Wen. Before this, strange phenomena were frequently reported in Shu. In the northern village of Chengdu, someone saw a woman hiding in the grass. Upon closer inspection, it was found that the creature resembled a person, having a head and body, but lacking hands and feet; it could move but could not speak. In the Guanghan area, horses were born with horns measuring one and a half inches long. There was also a foal that had one head, two bodies, six ears, no eyes, and two reproductive organs—one male and one female. There was also a hairless donkey that died after a few days of feeding. In Jiangnan, blood rain fell, and hair grew on the ground. In Jiangyuan, a type of grass grew up to seven or eight feet tall, with red flowers and leaves and green fruit resembling bull horns. In Fuling, there was a woman named Yao Shi who had a horn growing on her head that was three inches long and divided into three sections. When Li Han's family was pounding rice, the grains jumped out of the mortar. They picked up the rice and put it in a winnowing basket, but the rice jumped out again. They then placed it on a bamboo mat, but the rice still jumped out. There was also a nursery rhyme that said, "At Jiang Bridge's head, beneath the city gate, there are eighteen sons at Chengdu's north gate." It also said, "Guests are coming, guests are coming, invading the streets, their presence is demanding attention." Qiao Zhou once said, "Thirty years after my death, a stranger will enter Shu, and Shu will perish because of this." The year Shu perished was exactly thirty-two years after Qiao Zhou's death. Qiao Zhou also left a prophecy that said, "To the north of Guanghan City, there is a great thief named Liu Te, who will be difficult to defeat. That year will be the year of mutual destruction in the Xuan Palace." As a result, it happened just as he predicted. Historians say Sima Rui fled to Jiangdong, usurping the title of leader, but in reality, he had no leadership qualities at all. He was always anxious and fearful, showing no qualities of a leader. Compared to Li Xiong, both were merely small-time bandits; Sima Rui was not even as good as Sun Hao! After Sima Rui ran off to Jiangdong, he pretended to be a big shot, but in reality, he was nothing like a leader. He was always cowering, timid, and looked around constantly, living like a mouse. Compared to Li Xiong, both were not significant figures, but at least Li Xiong was somewhat stronger, and Sun Hao was better than him.
